A Tale of Two Cities Supporting Xinjiang

The organizational appointment came down quickly. This time, Zhou Mingyu shouldered a heavier responsibility in his aid to Xinjiang. He was not only the leader of the Dalian aid-to-Xinjiang cadres and talents, but also served as the deputy director of the Shihezi Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee.

At Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport in October 2015, the bustling crowds couldn't mask the reluctance and silence among the aid workers in Xinjiang.

Zhou Mingyu squatted down, wanting to straighten his son Xingchen's collar, but the little guy suddenly hugged his neck and burst into tears: "Daddy, don't go to the grassland, Daddy, play with Xingchen."

Zhou Mingyu's heart clenched. He gently patted his son's back, his voice trembling, "Xingchen, be good. Daddy's going to help the children far away. When Daddy comes back, I'll take you to the amusement park, okay?"

While his son was nodding through tears, he took out his phone and quickly snapped a picture of his son's adorable smile despite the tears, then quietly saved it to his phone's photo album.

When he was working in Xinjiang, he would save every new photo of his child that his wife sent him to his phone. These warm images became the best comfort for him on countless nights when he missed his wife.

"Mingyu!"

A shout came from outside the crowd. Zhou Mingyu looked up and saw Han Changfu walking quickly towards him, carrying a bulging tote bag.

"Director Han, what brings you here?" Zhou Mingyu quickly stood up, somewhat surprised.

"You've been gone for three more years, I have to come and see you off."

As they were talking, he handed her the bag he was carrying. "There are some thick sweaters and hand warmers in here. Shihezi gets cold in winter, and you've always had a sensitive stomach, so please take care to keep warm."

"Thank you, Director Han, you've thought of everything."

"Don't be so polite with me."

Han Changfu's tone immediately became serious: "Mingyu, you are the team leader and also the deputy director of the development zone. This trip to Shihezi carries a heavy task and great responsibility."

Keep a close eye on the industrial support and technical assistance they provide there, communicate frequently with local officials, and bring over our good experiences and practices from Dalian.

Zhou Mingyu nodded solemnly, "Don't worry, Director, I will do my best."

"You must do your job well, but you also need to take care of your health. There are many young people among this group of cadres and talents sent to Xinjiang. Please mentor them and let them contact your unit anytime if they encounter any problems they cannot solve."

Han Changfu paused for a moment, then added, "You don't need to worry about things at home. I've already arranged for someone to handle your mother's monthly check-ups; I've also asked a friend to help look after your child's kindergarten; if your wife encounters any difficulties, just have her call me directly, and my workplace will come to help immediately. In short, we'll take care of things at home, so you can focus on your work."

Zhou Mingyu was deeply moved. He grasped Han Changfu's hand tightly and said, "Director Han, thank you. I will definitely work hard in Shihezi and live up to your expectations and the unit's hopes."

"That's right."

Han Changfu glanced at his watch. "It's almost boarding time, don't be late. Go on, I'll wait for your good news."

Zhou Mingyu nodded, gave his wife and son a few more instructions, and then turned to follow the group.

Li Chao and Jiang Hengli walked beside him and whispered, "Team Leader Zhou, with such support from the company, we have to work even harder."

As he stood up, he saw Li Chao's family standing to the side of the line. His parents' eyes were red, and they repeatedly told him, "Don't forget to eat on time when you get there. No matter how busy you are, send us a video. Your dad and I are waiting to see you."

Li Chao nodded vigorously, but dared not say more, for fear that he would lose control of his emotions once he opened his mouth.

Not far away, Jiang Hengli quietly stuffed a medicine box into the bottom of his backpack; it was stomach medicine his mother had prepared for him.

Before he left, his mother handed him the medicine with tears in her eyes, repeatedly telling him not to tough it out because of his stomach problems. He was afraid that if his mother saw the medicine box now, it would bring back his tears, so he had to hide it even more carefully.

Zhou Mingyu took a deep breath, stepped forward and patted the two on the shoulders: "Don't be sad, we have a heavy burden on our shoulders. We have to live up to our families and this mission."

As he spoke, he pulled out a photo of Shihezi from his phone and showed it to the two of them. "Look, this is our new battlefield. The Shihezi Economic and Technological Development Zone has great potential. We're here this time to help boost the industry and make the lives of the local people better."

After boarding the plane, the young cadres who were sent to Xinjiang to assist in the fight against the epidemic quickly recovered from their feelings of parting. Li Chao and Jiang Hengli sat on either side of Zhou Mingyu, and Li Chao asked about the situation in Shihezi with curiosity.

"Team Leader Zhou, what kind of work will we be mainly responsible for? I've heard that Shihezi is the pearl of the Gobi Desert, what's it really like?"

"Shihezi's geographical location is particularly important. It is located on the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains and the southern edge of the Junggar Basin, about 150 kilometers away from Urumqi. It is a transportation hub in northern Xinjiang. It is very convenient to go to Karamay or Changji, which is very beneficial for our subsequent industrial cooperation and logistics transportation."

"As for local customs and culture, it truly deserves the title of 'Pearl of the Gobi.' It is a new town built by the military reclamation team. In the 1950s, the soldiers of the military reclamation team reclaimed wasteland here and turned the Gobi Desert into fertile fields. There is still a military reclamation museum in the town, where you can see models of the hoes and dugouts used by the soldiers back then. You must go and see it when you go, and feel the spirit of hard work and selfless dedication of the military reclamation team."

"Team Leader Zhou, I've heard that Shihezi's agriculture is quite unique. Could you tell me what its highlights are?"

Without a second thought, Zhou Mingyu said, "Shihezi's agriculture is very distinctive. It is an important commodity cotton base in the country. In autumn, there are snow-white cotton fields everywhere, stretching as far as the eye can see. There are also wine grapes, and the local wines are famous throughout the country."

In addition, the ethnic minorities here are incredibly hospitable. The Kazakhs' mare's milk wine, the Uyghurs' naan bread and hand-pulled mutton are all authentic local delicacies. Once we've finished our work, we'd like to have the opportunity to experience the local customs and traditions.

Jiang Hengli, who was standing to the side, listened with great interest. "Li Chao, how many questions have you asked? It's my turn now."

Zhou Mingyu was like a spokesperson, overwhelmed by the questions he was being asked.

Zhou Mingyu immediately interrupted them, "You can't keep asking me questions, I also need to interview you."

"Li Chao, which unit did you come from? Why did you suddenly decide to go to Xinjiang for aid work? Do your family members agree?"

Li Chao paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Team Leader Zhou, I come from the Agriculture, Forestry and Water Resources Bureau. I started working here in 2005, so it's been exactly ten years now. When I saw the application for the Xinjiang aid work issued by the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department, I signed up."